The Top 9 Best Essential Oils For Anxiety And Relaxation

Seems to be anxiety disorders are becoming common place these days and with so many prescription drug options on market, it’s no surprise that people have begun to turn to more holistic means for relief. One of the ways that I prefer to treat my anxiety and other forms of stress is with the use of essential oils. Essential oils have been used for centuries to not only treat, but often times, cure a variety of ailments from sleep disorders to common colds. Essential oils can be overwhelming to a newcomer but don’t worry; I did the work for you. Here are the top ten best essential oils for anxiety.

To find the best essential oil for anxiety relief you must first identify the symptoms you want to treat. The most common symptoms of anxiety are; fatigue, restlessness, irritability, worry, nausea, insomnia and a lack of concentration. Understanding the often debilitating effects of anxiety can help you understand how to properly take care of them. There are different classes of essential oils depending on the source, so before you ask yourself “What essential oils are good for anxiety?” find the oil grouping that best suits you.

Floral Essential Oils

Essential oils of the floral variety are oils that are derived from plants and flowers. The best therapeutic essential oils for anxiety that are plant based are fairly basic and easy to find.

Lavender Essential Oil

To start you have lavender; lavender is my favourite oil of the floral oils due to its vast variety of medicinal and spiritual values. Lavender is most famous for its calming properties which are perfect for anxiety, as a common symptom is restlessness. Lavender also relieves depression and nervous tension while increasing cognitive behaviour and blood circulation.

Rose Essential Oil

Rose essential oil is another perfect plant based oil as if opens awareness and spirituality which can help easy worry and fear.That is why it is often used to ease depression and anxiety. Because of it's many benefits it is also very good to use on your skin. Although it is hard to find a truly good Rose essential oil it is definitely one of our favorites

Chamomile Essential Oil

The oil is Extracted from the flowers of the Chamomile plant. Much like a hot cup of tea, chamomile essential oil calms the mind and body by removing toxins from the body while calming the nervous system creating a hostile-free environment for you.

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Ylang Ylang is sweet-scented floral oil which has a main purpose of relaxing your body and soul and is often times used to treat chronic stress and nervous breakdowns. Besides being an excellent relaxant it has also many other benefits like antiseborrhoeic, antiseptic and it can also be used as an aphrodisiac.

Angelica Essential Oil

Lastly we have the angelica oil. Who does not love the smell of Angelica? It is used in food and drinks as a natural flavour, the smell is also very relaxing to smell when you are at home. Angelica essential oil is useful when you’re in a state of hyper-stress as it secrets enzymes that stimulate you.

Citrus Oils

When it comes to the best oil for anxiety and relaxation, citrus oil is an obvious and delightful choice. Citrus has so many amazing beneficial uses because citrus type scents evoke happiness and naturally suppress depression.

Orange Essential Oil

I love the smell of oranges. I like it as a juice, I like it in my Gin-Tonic but I also like to use it as an essential oil. Orange essential oil delightfully calms the body while inducing a sense of euphoria. The science is simple; thinking of the feeling you get when smelling a fresh cut orange.

Lemon Oil

Lemon oil not only lends itself to immune support but the citrus notes treat nausea while raising dopamine levels which greatly improves your mood. in combination with tea tree oil and white vinegar it is also an excellent cleaning agent.

Bergamot

Last in this category we have bergamot. While bergamot isn’t directly citrus oil, it is derived from the orange flower plant. It increases blood flow and is a naturally used sedative to help improve sleep, which works wonders on your anxiety driven insomnia.

Herbal Oils

Herbs go so far beyond edibles; they have been used for medicinal treatments as far back as history goes.

Sage Essential Oils

Sage is a great example of herbal oil because it activates your hormones and stimulates brain function which I find helpful on those days that my mind and body are working on overload. Lastly on my list of best essential oils for anxiety we have sandalwood.

Sandalwood Essential Oil

Sandalwood is such an understated oil as it is mostly viewed as a cologne additive, but it has so many amazing properties past scent. It not only relaxes your muscles, it also reduces blood pressure and can help stimulate concentration. Whether on their own or in a combination of your choosing; the advantages are outstanding.

How to Use Essential Oils for Anxiety Treatment?

Now you have the basic information, but how do you use it? I have a deep well of recipes and blends, when it comes to what essential oil is good for anxiety, to keep your holistic treatments fresh and new every day. Like all things in life, using essential oils to treat an aliment is all about trial and error. You have to find the right blend and combination that works the best for you. A simple “starter” into the world of essential oils is to use a diffuser. Diffusing the oils is simply heating up the oils and releasing their aromas. It is best to start one oil at a time and then to add in different scents and types until you find the scent of your liking.

Using an Essential Oil Blend for Anxiety

I personally love a combination of orange and lavender. I use two drops of orange on the heating plate and just one drop of lavender; this is a great combination for peace and relaxation at nighttime when anxiety often peaks. These essential oil blends for anxiety are 100% customizable to your preference so the options are truly endless.

Creams & Lotions

My favorite way to utilize these oils for treating anxiety is to incorporate them into every day essential items, such as body lotion. I like to mix one cup of shea butter with one tablespoon of coconut oil. Once the mixture is smooth I add in two drops of chamomile oil and one drop of sandalwood oil. The shea butter and coconut oil works as a natural moisturizer for the skin while the essential oils add their relaxing properties. The warmth of your skin will help the essential oils release their healing aromas upon application. If you’re having trouble unwinding at nighttime; try taking a warm bath. By adding two drops of rose to your warm bath water you are not only allowing the oils to penetrate your skin but you are also filling the room with their mending fragrances.

I believe that natural remedies for aliments are always the best way to go. Not only are you avoiding adding unnecessary chemicals to your body, but you are also removing toxins while stimulating your mind and relaxing your body. The best essential oils for anxiety can be used in such a wide variety of ways that I’m positive that you can find and customize the regimen that works best for your mind, body and soul. Take care.

Sally Wong

Sally Wong is a manual therapist for about 15 years now and also a massage specialist. She is actively taking care of her body to stay healthy and in shape by doing Yoga and Tai Chi. She has a lot of knowledge and interest in Essential Oils because of her Oriental background. She learnt many things from her Grandmother. Originally from a small village in South China, now she lives in Vancouver, Canada.